WhatsApp is undoubtedly the most popular instant messenger in the world. According to data from Meta, the owner of the application, over 2 billion users use it every month. For comparison, WeChat, second in the ranking, boasts 1.3 billion users, and Facebook Messenger is used by 931 million people.
One of the biggest advantages of WhatsApp is a light and friendly interface, no overload with unnecessary functions and no annoying ads, which are slowly becoming the nightmare of platforms such as Instagram, Facebook or X (formerly Twitter). Unfortunately, this last advantage will soon become obsolete.
WhatsApp with ads. That’s for sure
The industry has been talking about introducing advertising to WhatsApp for several years, but so far the messenger has bravely defended itself against such changes. wrote about the start of tests in which advertisements were to be presented to application users.
At that time, Will Cathcart, head of the team responsible for the development of the application, denied these reports, explaining that the WhatsApp community would never accept it.
This @FT article is false. We won’t do that
Cathcart wrote in a post on X’s social media platform.
Apparently Will Cathcart should learn the famous maxim “never say never.” It turns out that ads on WhatsApp may appear just like they did a few days ago
Will Cathcart admitted that advertising content may appear on WhatsApp, although not in the form suggested by the Financial Times article. Let us recall that the British daily claimed that the advertisements would appear, among others, between conversations (chats) with our friends.
The head of WhatsApp once again ruled out such a possibility, but in an interview with the Brazilian daily he admitted that sponsored content may appear in the Updates section, where Statuses and Channels are currently located.
As for Statuses, these are short stories from friends that disappear after 24 hours (they are simply a copy of Instagram Stories). In the Channels tab, we can track the activity of the accounts we follow.
Will Cathcart also stated that – apart from advertising – there are other ways for WhatsApp to make money from users. – For example, channels may charge subscription fees, they may be intended only for paid members, and the owners may want to promote the channel – he explained.
But no, we won’t put ads in your inbox
– he pointed out definitively.
Paid Facebook and Instagram already in Poland. We found out the price
It is possible that after introducing ads to WhatsApp, the next step on the part of the Meta group will be to offer users a paid version of the application that will be free of such ads.
Mark Zuckerberg’s company decided to make such a move in the case of Facebook and Instagram. At the end of October, Meta introduced a paid subscription, thanks to which advertisements will be removed from these websites. This option has now also appeared in Poland.
Internet users in our country are already receiving offers from Meta. How much does paid Facebook and Instagram cost in Poland? To free yourself from ads, you need to purchase a subscription, which costs only PLN 59.99 per month.
Of course, you can still use Meta’s services for free, but with advertising. Users must choose one of two available options before continuing to use these platforms.
Interestingly, the package price applies to the application on the smartphone and will be a few zlotys cheaper if you purchase the package via a web browser. Meta explained a few days ago that from November users will pay €9.99 per month for the browser or €12.99 for the app.
Meta explains the introduction of a paid subscription with the need to adapt to EU requirements.
To comply with changing European regulations, we are introducing a new subscription option in the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland. In November, we’ll offer people who use Facebook or Instagram and live in these regions the option to continue using these personalized ad-supported services for free or subscribe to stop seeing ads. As long as users are subscribed, their data will not be used in advertising
– the company explained in a statement.
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
